Nepal Semester

Himalayan Studies

A 3-Month Gap Year Program

Duration

Description

Experience the mysticism of the Himalayas: trek on the roof of the world, study traditional arts with local masters. Live in a farming village and sit for a Buddhist meditation retreat.

* College Credit Available

Spring Dates

Feb 7 - May 1, 2020

Spring Availability

two spaces

Fall Dates

Sep 15 - Dec 6, 2019

Fall Availability

accepting waitlist

Number of Participants

12

Suggested Ages

17-22

Spring Begins In

21 Weeks

Fall Begins In

0Days

Land Cost

$15,960

Estimated Flight Cost

$1,975

Kathmandu

Langtang

Annapurna Conservation Area

Chokati

Program Overview

The Himalayas. Since time immemorial, these colossal peaks with their vast web of rugged, isolated valleys and distinct ethnic groups have drawn only the most intrepid travelers from distant lands.

Through rural and urban homestays, a retreat in a Buddhist monastery, high mountain trekking, service learning, and independent study, Dragons Himalaya students explore this remarkable region and its people, encountering ancient spiritual traditions with deep roots in a mystical land.

Our Himalaya Semester is based in the Kathmandu Valley, an ancient crossroads and melting pot of Himalayan peoples. While living with host families and studying Nepali language, students meet with local scholars and activists and learn about Nepal’s history, politics and culture while pursuing a wide range of independent study and learning service projects.

The study of spiritual traditions is a central component of our Himalaya semester, introducing students to a range of concepts in Buddhism, Hinduism and Shamanism. From academic discourse to hands on study, students find areas of personal interest to explore in depth during our time in Kathmandu. Bronze casting, jewelry making, stone carving, thangka…

Through rural and urban homestays, a retreat in a Buddhist monastery, high mountain trekking, service learning, and independent study, Dragons Himalaya students explore this remarkable region and its people, encountering ancient spiritual traditions with deep roots in a mystical land.

Our Himalaya Semester is based in the Kathmandu Valley, an ancient crossroads and melting pot of Himalayan peoples. While living with host families and studying Nepali language, students meet with local scholars and activists and learn about Nepal’s history, politics and culture while pursuing a wide range of independent study and learning service projects.

The study of spiritual traditions is a central component of our Himalaya semester, introducing students to a range of concepts in Buddhism, Hinduism and Shamanism. From academic discourse to hands on study, students find areas of personal interest to explore in depth during our time in Kathmandu. Bronze casting, jewelry making, stone carving, thangka (Buddhist iconography) painting, and music are just a few of the apprenticeship opportunities available. Students interested in traditional medicine can work with a Tibetan doctor or an Ayurvedic practitioner. Students critically reflect on their place in the world through exploring concepts of service and development, visiting grassroots projects, and participating in local farming activities.

From Kathmandu we hike into the foothills of the Himalaya to explore rural Nepali village life. We settle into a calmer pace of agrarian life, living without electricity and learning about subsistence living. We also venture high into the Himalayas for an unforgettable trek amid some of the world’s tallest mountains. Hiking at high elevations, we enjoy several weeks of active exploration through one of the most ruggedly beautiful and dramatic areas on earth.

For-Credit Course Option

In order to deepen your experience abroad, you may elect to enroll in a college-level language course while participating on the Nepal Gap semester program. Those who enroll in an optional course will be invoiced additional fees on top of the land cost, as noted below.

For-Credit Course Fees (1 course)

Type

$800

Transcript Fee

$400

For-Credit Academic Fee

$1,200

TOTAL COST

Students who take a course for-credit will receive a transcript from Dragons School of Record after successful completion of the program. To read more about the for-credit courses visit our FAQ Page.

Academics

The optional for-credit language course is worth 4 semester credits and is offered at a variety of levels. Included below are course descriptions for the language courses available:

Nepali Language Study Level I, II & III (NPL 150/250/350; 4 credits)

NPL: 150 Nepali I (Nepali Language 150; 4 credits) This course introduces students to the Nepali language and is designed for students with no or minimal previous background in spoken or written Nepali. Students in this course focus on learning essential vocabulary, practicing pronunciation, and understanding simple grammatical structures. This knowledge prepares students to effectively communicate in Nepali on a limited range of topics related to everyday situations. Students practice listening and speaking in real-life situations, learn to read and write Nepali script (Devanagari script), and examine how culture and language interact in Nepal. In-class activities and course assignments aim to assist students as they develop the oral proficiency and confidence necessary to initiate simple conversations. Out-of-classroom experiences such a field trips and guided interactions with native speakers supplement formal classroom instruction and provide ample opportunities for practical engagement. In addition, language skills gained in this course support students to deepen participation in other program and academic activities such as homestays and the Independent Study Project.

NPL: 250 Nepali II (Nepali Language 250; 4 credits) This course introduces students to more challenging linguistic Nepali language material in order to establish a solid foundation for the use of the language. Students in this course focus on building on past language exposure to improve speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Students expand their oral expression abilities by increasing vocabulary, improving understanding of grammar concepts, strengthening pronunciation abilities, focusing on listening comprehension, and building on previously studied Nepali script (Devanagari script). This course introduces new language concepts to allow students to speak about topics pertaining to their daily lives and also focuses on deepening knowledge of Nepali culture and customs. By the end of the semester, students are expected to be able to engage in basic daily conversations, read simple texts, and write for daily needs. In-class activities and course assignments aim to assist students as they develop the ability to appropriately use language and improve proficiency. Out-of-classroom experiences such a field trips and guided interactions with native speakers supplement formal classroom instruction and provide ample opportunities for practical engagement. In addition, language skills gained in this course support students to deepen participation in other program and academic activities such as homestays and the Independent Study Project.

NPL: 350 Nepali III (Nepali Language 350; 4 credits) This course is designed to develop advanced skills in the Nepali language and is intended for students with extensive prior exposure to the language. This course focuses on consolidating linguistic knowledge and development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Students in this course will develop advanced comprehension of and competence in using spoken Nepali in a wide-variety of experiences. Grammatical functions will be reviewed and incorporated as they relate to particular communication needs. A mix of communicative and interactive methods are used to develop advanced proficiency and materials are drawn from a variety of media sources and texts. In addition, students develop their understanding of the relationship between the Nepali language and culture. By the end of the semester, students are expected to be able to express sophisticated and nuanced ideas both orally and in writing. Out-of-classroom experiences such a field trips and guided interactions with native speakers supplement formal classroom instruction and provide ample opportunities for practical engagement. In addition, language skills gained in this course support students to deepen participation in other program and academic activities such as homestays and the Independent Study Project.

In addition, you may petition to take an additional for-credit course in order to earn a total of 8 semester credits. Other for-credit courses which may be available upon petition, include Regional Seminar, Independent Study Project (ISP): Methods and Application, or Intercultural Development and Global Citizenship. Contact us with questions about for-credit course options, to learn about registration deadlines, or for copies of sample syllabi.

Program Components

5/5

Comparative Religion

Spend a week at a Tibetan monastery to learn about Buddhism and inquire deeply into the daily practice of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shamanism.

4/5

Development Studies

Examine issues of health and education, human rights, environment and land use, globalization and poverty.

4/5

Focus Of Inquiry

Explore topics of sacred spaces and spirituality, religious practices, examination of development, current events, language and cultural anthropology. See college accredited curriculum for details.

5/5

Homestay

Spend 4 weeks in urban homestays in Kathmandu or Patan and 1-2 weeks in a homestay in a rural Himalayan village.

“The trip was absolutely amazing. I learned SO much about Nepal and about myself.”

Helen Whitty Nepal Semester: Himalayan Studies

I had an absolutely amazing experience. I couldn't have asked for better instructors or a better group. I felt like the
itinerary flowed perfectly and at each step I felt like I was in exactly the right place and was fully equipped for that stage of the trip. I think I grew a lot as a person in how I think, and I also formed friendships that will continue after the trip.

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A Closer Look

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Ten days into our trek, and over a week from any road we found the Nepal of our dreams, fantasies, and imaginations...

Ten days into our trek, and over a week from any road, we found the Nepal of our dreams, fantasies, and imaginations. A vision of the Himalayas held by Hollywood film producers and dreamers everywhere. So far north that the familiar “Namaste” is dropped from our vocabularies as the Nepali language is replaced by Tibetan. The international border lays closer than the next village down the trail. Prayer flags silently flap in the steady breeze, and mandarin characters are now added to the growing list of languages depicting the word “toilet” on the blue doors of the wooden outhouses. Brightly colored Gompas stand as the only contrast to the otherwise universal brown shade consistently painting the landscape from tree line below, to the glacial snow caps permanently residing in every direction around our camp for the night. Rice patties and other agriculture were last seen a few villages ago as the nighttime temperature now drops well below freezing. Herds of yaks graze along the banks of the slowly moving creek who’s glacial headwaters, fueled by the daily snowmelt, lay only a few hours above in the ice capped peaks of the staggering mountains which now complete encircle us in a 360 degree panorama.

Man Bahadur Cappetta Nepal Semester: Himalayan Studies

Something More

“Now, scholars can be very useful and necessary in their own dull and unamusing way. They provide a lot of information. It’s just that there is Something More, and that Something More is what life is really all about.”
– Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh
I struggle with this quote. During my last four years at a New England boarding school, I was fully thrust into the world of academia. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that immersion, so Benjamin Hoff’s harsh words cut deep. At the same time, however, Hoff’s message really resonates with me, for even at my high school graduation, I felt like there was something missing – something I couldn’t quite put a finger on. That missing piece is ultimately what led me to Nepal. I’ve carried it in the back of my mind through the last month and a half, but when we arrived in Balanchaur, the site of our rural village homestay, it all made sense.
Allow me to set the scene. Balanchaur sits stoically atop the hills of the Himalayas, surrounded by rice fields and dense forests. Rising above Balanchaur are the mighty snowcapped “himals” (Nepali word for mountain). Manaslu, a mountain rising to 8163 meters, feels as though it is within an arm’s reach. My words really can’t do the setting justice and unfortunately I don’t have enough service to upload a photo, so just imagine a landscape that would accompany the dictionary definition of picturesque.
The village itself is home to about 400 people, all of the Gurung ethnic group. Their ancestors came from the higher forests and settled in these open fields an estimated 300 years ago. Since then primary and secondary schools have been built and a limited supply of electricity has reached the village, but the Gurung people still carry on lives as subsistence farmers.
Our daily schedule in Balanchaur is simple, and that has made has our stay here so meaningful. Aside from an afternoon lesson with our instructors, we spend our time with our host families, immersing ourselves in their culture. From helping my aama around the house to learning new dance moves from my sisters at nightly village-wide parties, I’ve gotten an authentic taste of village life.
My most notable experience in Balanchaur, however, has been sitting in on a shamanistic house cleansing. After a series of bad omens, the village chief worried there was an evil spirit at work in his home and called a local shaman for assistance. To conduct a house cleansing, a shaman enters a trance that allows him or her to travel freely through the three spirit realms and locate the source of negative energy. It may sound like a joke on paper, but witnessing the shamanistic ritual firsthand has proved to me that it is quite the opposite. As I sat there in that room, surrounded by hopeful villagers and a shaman shaking into a trance, I felt an energy that could not be replicated by books, or any other medium for that matter. In that moment, I understand what Benjamin Hoff meant by Something More, for it was right before my eyes.
You could study Shamanism in an academic setting, as many do, and be able to pick apart each ritual object and its significance, but that information alone won’t get to the root of the topic; it won’t lend a complete understanding. The essence of Shamanism only becomes clear when you sit inches from the shaman as he or she moves into the trance, and you engage all the senses to experience that shift in energy. That physical moment transcends academia.
After giving that house cleansing more thought, I have come to realize that it is merely the tip of the iceberg, for I could define so many of my experiences in Nepal as Something More. For example, approaching Buddhism from a scholarly perspective pales in comparison to our experience at Kopan Monastery, where we felt the power of prayer as hundreds of monks chanted mantras in the gompa for an early morning puja. Additionally, no matter how much I were to study the caste system, when my host grandparents in Patan considered me of a lower caste and therefore refused to eat meals with me, the emotions I felt could not have been replicated in a classroom. It is experiences like these that I yearned for when I came to Nepal, and I have been lucky enough to find them.
I took a gap year because I am on a quest for Something More. Even so, scholarship has been a vital component of my path and will continue to be, so I do not mean to belittle its importance. I would just like to recognize that high scholarship ought not to be an end goal, for there is an essence that it cannot capture. I have found that essence in the streets of Kathmandu, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, and the Himalayan countryside. After spending the majority of my life thus far in a classroom, I can see that our journey through Nepal, in the words of Benjamin Hoff, is what life is really all about.